Losing weight, but not the inches?

My personal annoyance with my journey is that I am STILL a UK size 24, despite losing something like 18lb now! I mean… REALLY – I’m doing lots of things right, yes, not 100% right, 100% of the time, but overall I’m doing well.

I am pleased with my weight loss, I am pleased with my food, I am pleased with my exercise, I am NOT pleased that I’m still a size 24! And I know I am, because I have 3 pairs of the same work trousers, 1 pair of which have been hanging up, but only worn a couple of times. Popped them on this morning, hoping they might be falling down, NOTHING!!!!!! They stayed, very firmly up!

This happened when I was with SW a couple of years ago as well, at that time I found it demoralising, and although I continued for a while, I was not upset when I came to a point I couldn’t attend SW anymore. I basically gave up, and reverted back to my old ways.

So, what do I do when I want to find out if there’s anything wrong? I hit the internet! Turns out this is quite common. I read a couple of forum questions and answers – one response in particular stood out, this lady had to wait until she had lost 3 stone before dropping 1 dress size (at this time she was down to 17stone).

Then I found some info on a couple of sites as well (listed at end of post).

Dieting alone will see the us lose inches quicker than diet and exercise, but that is due to muscle loss as well – shockingly upto 25% of our overall weight loss can be coming from muscle loss. If we are working out as well (especially with a blend of cardio and strength/resistance) our muscle mass will increase, so room left by disappearing fat can be taken with muscle, hence if no new muscle is being built, the inches disappear faster.

And then there’s the changes we make to our diet that can cause bloating, as an example, broccoli, lentils and wholegrains. These were just those named, but there has to be a whole host of foods that may bloat us. Apparently ginger, peppermint or fennel teas can help against bloating.

Then another site advised that inch loss is random depending on the person, but that a general pattern of loss goes from face, arms and legs first – yes that’s me, then stomach and hips. The fat on our tummies also helps to protect our reproductive organs, liver and kidneys – so the body has a reason to keep hold of that fat for as long as possible, it will go, but as a last resort – that makes sense to me, now I’m feeling a bit better.

So it turns out I’m not abnormal, my body is doing it’s best to keep on to protection. I like that, rather the body was with ,me as opposed to against me!

So, now I’m feeling a little more positive, what can I concentrate on?

• I have cheek bones
• My ring swings about a bit on my finger
• Sleeves on tops are not as tight on the upper arms as they were
• I am healthier
• I am fitter
• Jeans are more comfortable than they were
• I have noticed muscle growth in my upper arms and on my thighs

Now I’m over my moody blues over this, I can think logically, and I know it will be impossible for me to continue to lose weight but not drop sizes, it will happen, I just need to keep motivated and keep going.

NOTE TO SELF: I am doing well, I have lost over a stone, I am demonstrably fitter and healthier, I’ve got this! I AM succeeding, I will CONTINUE to succeed.

Hopefully this post will find someone who is experiencing the same as me, and I hope you too find some comfort in this. And please, please don’t think about giving up. Let’s keep going, we can win our healthy, slimmer selves back 🙂

https://www.livestrong.com/article/386794-why-am-i-losing-weight-but-not-inches/

https://www.nutracheck.co.uk/Library/ForumArticles/Im+losing+weight+but+not+inches++why.html